Don Imus tells listeners that he has cancer

March 17, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

NEW YORK — Veteran radio personality Don Imus said he’s battling stage two prostate cancer but expressed confidence in a full recovery.

Imus, 68, made the announcement Monday on his morning show from New York, which airs on ABC Radio Networks and cable’s RFD-TV.

“I’m changing the name of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer to the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with cancer and me,” he said, referring to his charity to help children with cancer.

A one-time shock jock who now does a show heavy on the media and politics, Imus was fired by CBS Radio and MSNBC in spring 2007 for a racial slur of the Rutgers women’s basketball team. He later apologized. He’s built his radio network back to the level it was before the incident, although his influence has waned.

Ron Silver, actor who won Tony, dies

Actor Ron Silver, who won a Tony Award as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow” and did a political about-face from loyal Democrat to Republican activist after the Sept. 11 attacks, died Sunday at age 62.

“Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him early Sunday morning” in New York City, said Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which Silver helped found. “He had been fighting esophageal cancer for two years.”

Silver, an Emmy nominee for a recurring role as a slick strategist for liberal President Jed Bartlet on “The West Wing,” had a long history of balancing acting with left-leaning social and political causes.

Jay Leno adds show for Detroit’s jobless

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Jay Leno has added a second free show for the Detroit area’s unemployed.

Jeff Corey, a spokesman for the Palace of Auburn Hills, says the April 7 show has proved so popular, Leno has added an April 8 date.

Corey says about 15,000 people can attend each performance. Tickets will be distributed until they run out.

Hundreds lined up early Monday to collect up to four tickets a person. They only had to say they’re unemployed to get tickets.

Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson sign on to Rothbury fest

ROTHBURY, Mich. — Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and surviving members of the Grateful Dead are scheduled to perform at the Rothbury music festival in Michigan.

Organizers of the second annual festival, set for July 2-5 at the Double JJ Ranch and Resort in Rothbury, say the Black Crowes, Damian Marley, Nas, Ralph Stanley and Ani DeFranco will also perform. Sixty-six acts are listed on the festival’s Web site.

The first festival drew some 40,000 people. Performers included John Mayer, the Dave Matthews Band and Snoop Dogg.

Psychiatrist surrenders in Smith overdose case

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police say psychiatrist Khristine Eroshevich has surrendered to face charges of excessively prescribing drugs to Anna Nicole Smith before the former model’s overdose death in 2007.

Police spokeswoman Rosario Herrera says Eroshevich turned herself in Monday. She didn’t immediately post the $20,000 bail.

Eroshevich is charged with conspiring with another doctor and Smith’s lawyer-turned-boyfriend Howard K. Stern.

Attorney General Jerry Brown alleges the doctors falsified prescriptions and prescribed unwarranted amounts of highly addictive medications to Smith. Eroshevich’s attorney says she was only protecting Smith’s privacy.

Today’s birthdays

Guitarist Paul Kantner (Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship) is 68. Singer-songwriter John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful) is 65. Actor Patrick Duffy is 60. Actor Kurt Russell is 58. Actor Gary Sinise is 54. Actor Rob Lowe is 45. Singer Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) is 42. Bassist Melissa Auf der Maur (Smashing Pumpkins, Hole) is 37.